Southeast High Leads Manatee County Research Efforts

The Bradenton program engages hundreds of students in independent scientific research.

Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Secondary Education

Southeast High Leads Manatee County Research Efforts

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Should your local high school offer specialized research programs for students?

Southeast High School offers the only high school research program in Manatee County, supporting students in grades nine through 12. Launched during the 2025-2026 school year, the initiative allows students to conduct independent scientific experiments.

Why it matters

The program provides students with practical experience conducting scientific research before they head to college. This initiative fills a unique gap in local education by offering a structured environment for advanced student inquiry.

Southeast Research currently serves over 300 students spanning grades nine through 12. It remains the only dedicated high school research program within the entire Manatee County district.

The players

Brittany Devlin

She is the teacher who launched the research program at Southeast High School.

Southeast High School

This educational institution is the site of the only high school research program in Manatee County.

The details

Students in the program work to identify gaps in existing scientific literature to inform the design of their own unique experiments. Throughout their research, students maintain detailed binders to document all experimental procedures and their findings.

The research program at Southeast High School was launched during the 2025-2026 school year.

Culture Shift

The establishment of the Southeast High research program reflects the broader pedagogical shift toward inquiry-based science education in American secondary schools. By moving beyond traditional laboratory experiments, the program aligns with national movements to foster early college-level research skills.

Students residing in Manatee County have a unique opportunity to gain advanced research experience directly at Southeast High School. This curriculum allows participants to build a portfolio of scientific documentation while still in high school.

The takeaway

Students looking to bolster their college applications can benefit from participating in formal research programs that mirror university-level work. Engaging in independent inquiry at the high school level provides a distinct advantage when entering competitive undergraduate science fields.